5 Steps to Eco-Prep Your Home Before Vacation

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Tip: Unplug all kitchen appliances to save energy while you're away from home. Photo: Flickr/NancyHugoCKD.com

2. Save energy

Shutting off your air conditioner isn’t the only way to save energy while you’re away. Power down every room of the house to cut back on energy costs and shrink your family’s footprint.

For starters, unplug all kitchen appliances, such as coffee makers, toasters, blenders and microwaves. This simple step is not only a good idea for fire safety but also cuts down on vampire power – the energy your appliances use when they are plugged in but not running.

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For even greater energy savings, put all large electronics in other rooms of the house – such as televisions, computers and stereo systems – on a power strip and flip the switch off before leaving for your trip.

And don’t forget your water heater! Before departure, head down to the basement and turn off the circuit breaker that connects to your water heater to avoid wasted energy. Some water heaters also have a powered-down “vacation” setting, which will also help you cut costs while away from home.